Formation of a landscape

The Itterbeek and its tributaries: the Baatsbeek and Eetsevelderbeek all spring from the Kempen plateau. This plateau, like large parts of our landscape, was formed by the flow of the Meuse River and the movement of the Earth's crust. During the ice ages, the Meuse was a wild, raging river that carried various erosion materials such as stones, sand, and clay from the Ardennes and beyond. Later, the Meuse carved its way deeper into this debris cone. Together with movements in the Earth's crust, this led to the steep edges of the Kempen plateau. The many streams flow downstream from the Kempen plateau, shaping the rolling landscape. In the lower-lying plains and valleys, all this water accumulates, forming an area that has historically been marshy. We now call this area the 'Kempen-Broek'. Various nature organizations work day in and day out to preserve or restore the special values and species of this landscape. The Itterbeek Valley nature reserve is one of them.

Limburgs Landschap vzw